TABLE OF CONTENTS Although a project manager performs various types of functions, his or her three basic responsibilities are as follows [13]:
To ensure that the product under consideration is produced within the allocated budget;
To ensure that the product under consideration is delivered to the customer within the limits of a defined time schedule;
To ensure that the product under consideration satisfies fully all of the specified performance requirements.
A successful project manager possesses qualifications such as [2, 13]:
Appropriate previous experience;
Thorough understanding of profitability concepts;
Effective knowledge of management problems (e.g., marketing, contracts, personnel administration, control and purchasing, and law);
A burning desire to train and develop supervisory personnel;
Sufficient working knowledge in various areas of science.
In selecting a project manager, factors such as strong technical background and experience, the ability to get along well with senior management, previous experience working in various departments, being a good team player, being currently available, being a mature and a hard-nosed individual, and walking on water must be considered seriously [3].
The reporting of the project manager within the company organization must be carefully considered. Some important reasons for having a project manager report directly to a high level in the organizational setup are as follows [25, 26]:
To provide the project manager sufficient status to perform his or her job effectively;
To impress customers, particularly in a competitive environment;
To obtain adequate and timely assistance in solving problems;
To report to the individual...
